Question
Yes ma'am,

I was wondering if you could offer help with my new MASS CANE, my brother asked you about his SCHEFFLERA, which is doing great now, and he says thanks.  With the cane, It has been doing great yet the past two weeks it seems to be drooping and the ends of the leaves are turning brown at the tips and sides.  I have been putting it out on a screened in porch on days when the weather is good.  Watering it once a week well and lightly spritzing it daily but not letting it sit in water it is potted in miracle grow soil with a slight amount of perilite.  When watering I have done so with distilled water.  It never stays out overnight or when the temp is below 50 F. Thank you for any advice or tips you can offer.

Appreciatively,

Ronald Manning

Answer
Ronald,

Mass canes are pretty tender plants. Wind can really damage them quickly and they do not like any sun. Light just bright enough for your hand to make a shadow is bright enough for them. Also you said you water it once a week but that could be too often if the soil is not dry. Pick up a package of bamboo skewers at the grocery store and insert one in the soil leaving it stick out 1/2 inch. Then when you think it is time to water it pull the skewer out and see if it is dry down to the lowest 2 inches. If it is wet more than 2 inches up it is not time to water it yet, it needs to dry out more. Keeping it to wet causes brown leaf tips like you are experiencing. Let it dry out more between waterings and it will be healthier.  It would probably be just as happy staying indoors where it is out of the wind and not in too much sun either. Good luck.

Darlene

PS. Glad to hear your brother's scheff is doing well!